Virtual Girls Night Out - Where's My Candy?

This week has been packed. The Halloween parade at school this morning was adorable. And now we have pumpking carving and baking to do. I'm pretty dang tired but this is no time to rest! Let's jump into our Virtual Girls Night Out and get our energy up!

New to the Friday night blog-hopping party? This is what you do: Check out this VGNO post then sign the MckLinky guest book below with your name/blog link. Visit fellow bloggers by clicking on their blog link. Leave some comment luv with a message of "Happy VGNO!" Go blog-hopping!


Time For Some Tunes!

Fleet Foxes "Mykonos"


Fun video

Time For A Cocktail!

The Bone
2 oz. Wild Turkey rye (or other 100-proof rye or bourbon)
1 teaspoon fresh-squeezed lime juice
1 teaspoon simple syrup (made with equal parts sugar and water)
3 dashes Tabasco sauce

Strain into chilled tall shot glass and serve.

VGNO "Heart Shaped Rock Project"

Did you see Carolee's picture last week?


So-o-o-o-o cute!

The rock is traveling to Gena's at "Relax and Enjoy All The Serene Moments" next, then it will make a stop at Stacy's "Random Thoughts". Would you like to participate too? Just e-mail me your mailing address and I'll add you to the list. I'm at annharrisonATcomcastDOTnet.

Time For A Question?

Are you dressing up for Halloween? Hmmmm??? If so, what are you going to be? I'll be answering the door wearing my best pearl necklance and cashmere sweater while channeling Bree Van de Kamp of Desperate Housewives. To me, that kind of housewife is terrifying. Boo!

Let's get on with the VGNO. Click the MckLinky button and add your blog link to join the Virtual GNO. Visit those that have left their blog link. Go blog-hopping! Invite your blog readers to join us here. Post A LINK to the Virtual GNO on your blog. That's what the VGNO is all about. And if you hang out on Twitter, leave your address so I can follow you :->




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Voices Inside My Head

*****A couple of days ago I was referred to as being "big boned". Hmmmm... Is that truly possible? I mean, can some people really have bigger bones than others? I mean really? (And how is this supposed to make me feel better? Hmmmmm???)


*****I have a question I'd like to throw out to Scholastic regarding an item they had for sale at our recent school Book Fair. How do you feel this item fits into an educational format?

It's a stick with a pointing hand on the end. No pencil or pen at the other end. And they're $4.99 each! The kids were all over them which made the parents even more irritable. Bad move Scholastic.


*****It's picture day tomorrow and I've trimmed my daughters bangs. I trimmed them. I did my best to hide my surprise at how spikey they turned out. Please, dear daughters, forgive me when you look back on your 3rd and 6th grade class pictures. Mommy loves you.

Yes, I Said It

I sent such a bad message to my girls last night.

Over dinner some how the subject of money came up. My oldest said the classic line "Money can't buy you happiness" and I said 'Oh yes it can!'. My girls were surprised. This isn't what I usually say.

I'm all about Peace and Love. Cooperation and helping others. I often say 'As long as we're healthy, every thing will be just fine.' But sometimes my spirit gets weak and I say things that... well, they may be true, they don't help my girls at all.

I know why I said, 'Money can buy you happiness'. We're waiting on an application acceptance and I hate it! Money is an issue. It always seems to be the issue. I'm so tired of it.

So yeah... I do believe money can buy happiness. At least it can buy me that chocolate I've been craving.

Virtual GNO - Yikes! No Costumes Yet!

Here it is a week before Halloween and I have no costumes for my girls. Not one costume! Last year I was so-o-o organized. I even made a Black Widow Spider costume (I'm not a sewing kinda gal so that was really something). I need to loosen up and get my creative juices flowin'. I need a Virtual Girls Night Out.

New to the Friday night blog-hopping party? This is what you do: Check out this VGNO post then sign the MckLinky guest book below with your name/blog link. Visit fellow bloggers by clicking on their blog link. Leave some comment luv with a message of "Happy VGNO!" Go blog-hopping!

Time For Some Tunes!

Guess who I went to see last night??? :->

Brandi Carlile "The Story"


She is so incredible. So talented. You must go see her when she comes to your town. (---Thanks so much Barbara Jones/One2One Network ---)

Have you seen some good shows lately? Tell me about them!

Time For A Cocktail!

"Dirty Mother"
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz brandy
3/4 oz coffee liqueur
Preparation:
Build the ingredients in an old-fashioned glass with ice cubes.
Stir well.


VGNO "Heart-Shaped Rock Project"

The rock has made it's way to Carolee's "Working In My Jammies And Loving It". Check this out!!!



The heart-shaped rock will then make it's way to Gena's at "Relax and Enjoy All The Serene Moments".

Our little gem has a lot of stops ahead of it. Would you like to participate in the traveling "VGNO Heart-Shaped Rock Project"? Send me your mailing address and I'll put you on the list. Please e-mail annharrisonATcomcastDOTnet. (I'm saving all the pics and will have a slide show at the end of the project :-> )


Alright now, let's go blog-hop! Click the MckLinky button and add your blog link to join the Virtual GNO. Visit those that have left their blog link. Go blog-hopping! Invite your blog readers to join us here. Post A LINK to the Virtual GNO on your blog. That's what the VGNO is all about. And if you hang out on Twitter, leave your address so I can follow you :->




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A Thousand Words Thursday

Benny - King of My Little Pony Land



Take part in Jen's A Thousand Words Thursday. Please visit her site and link up!

Maybe The Wii Isn't For Me

I sat on my couch, with an instruction book on my lap and a Wii remote in my hand. I was trying to learn how to play a new video game. It's all about football, which is a game I don't know very well. In fact the only thing I really like about football is the food that accompanies it (wings, chips, beer – the usual).

As I stumble through the instructions trying to coordinate pushing A and B at the same time with my right hand while moving arrows on the Nunchuk with my left, I keep hearing a little voice in the background saying "That looks easy". I'm doing my best to ignore the little neighbor girl but after her 4th comment of “That looks easy” I decide I’ll show her and let her have a go at these crazy directions.

She sits beside me and I hand her the tools. ‘Alright’, I say to myself, ‘You little smart aleck’ (I’m being polite ;-> ) ‘When you get frustrated I’ll be sitting right here and you can hand me back the remotes with a BIG apology for your rude remarks.’ Yeah… this 'ill teach 'er!

The game begins, the players move. The players MOVE?!? How did she do that? She makes a 1st down. What?!? The game continues and she makes a touchdown. Ummmm…. My daughters start to take notice and sit beside us on the couches. This isn’t going as I planned.

After a deep breath I swallow my pride and say ‘Good Job’ and ‘Look at you!’. My lesson didn’t go quite as planned. Well, not entirely, one of us got “schooled”.

Virtual GNO - And A Giveaway!

So much is on my mind. The nightmarish bully situation in Florida. The decision weather or not to have my girls vaccinated for H1N1. And that crazy, and highly suspicious, balloon ride. (I really don't want to go on about it but that Dad? He's kinda nuts. And this family has been on Wife Swap not just once, but twice? I actually saw one of those episodes - I'm embarrassed to say - and I couldn't believe what a jerk he was. Now, well, this whole thing is just odd. Click here to see Joel McHale's take on him.)

Onward! Let's get our minds off of disturbing things and relax at a Virtual Girls Night Out. New here? This is what you do: Check out my main VGNO post then sign the MckLinky guest book below with your name/blog link. Visit fellow bloggers that have signed the MckLinky VGNO. Go blog-hopping!

Time For Some Music!

I have a giveaway going over at Ann Again... and again Reviews for the latest release from Joshua Bell. His style of music doesn't generate a lot of videos however, I just love this tune. Check it out!

Joshua Bell & Chris Botti "I Loves You Porgy"

This cd is so-o-o-o good. I absolutely love it!

Time For A Cocktail!

Gushy Violin
Ingredients
2 oz. Brandy
1 oz. Vanilla Cream
2 oz. Milk
5 tsp extract Mint
Directions
Mix together and serve chilled.

Hmmm... Vanilla Cream? How decadent. Yum :->

Time For A Giveaway!

As I've mentioned above I'm having a giveaway of Joshua Bell's latest cd release "At Home With Friends". The giveaway is on my review site Ann Again... and again Reviews. Click here so you can enter to win. Good luck!

VGNO "Heart-Shaped Rock Project"

Our blog-traveling rock is moving from Kat's place to Carolee's right now. It's next stop will be at Gena's place. (I'm not exactly sure which place though, she has 4 blogs! :-> ). Kat posted great pics. Here's a personal favorite:


She knows me so well. Would you like to participate? E-mail me at annharrisonATcomcastDOTnet with your mailing address and I'll put you on the list. Easy-peasy. (For more info. click here, and scoll to the bottom.)

OK, VGNO blog-hopping friends, off we go! Click the MckLinky button and add your blog link to join the Virtual GNO. Visit those that have signed-in. Go blog-hopping! Invite your blog readers to join us here. Post A LINK to the Virtual GNO on your blog. That's what the VGNO is all about. And if you hang out on Twitter, leave your address so we can follow you :->




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A Must See

Kseniya Simonova recently won "Ukraines Got Talent". (Who knew they even had this show in the Ukraine? I'm so sheltered.) This presentation is stunning. Enjoy. (Thanks Colo.)



(At the end she writes "You Are Always Near".)

"Kseniya Simonova is a 24 years old Ukranian artist. She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and "sand painting" skills to interpret Germany's invasion and occupation of Ukraine during WWII."
:site kseniyasimovoa.com

Monday's Muse "And I'm Taking This With Me"

"I'm going to the bathroom. And I'm taking this with me". My eight year old made this statement while grabbing a pink pom-pom. She grabbed the handle of the pink puff ball and headed down the hall, dancing all the way.

I loved it.

I want to be more like her.


Where does the "fun" go? How do we lose the playfulness? As of today I'm making a pledge to find more silliness, more joy in my day.

Time's are just so flippin' hard. I need to give my spirit a lift.

Do you have something, someone, inspiring you? Join Robin's "Monday's Muse" at Cinnamon and Honey and share with us.

VGNO - Making My Own Sunshine

No school for my girls today. I was totally getting into the routine of "back-to-school" so these days kind of throw me off. And the sun has left. So sad. I know what will put a spring in my step... a Virtual Girls Night Out!

Join The Virtual GNO!

For those that are new to the party: Join the Virtual GNO blog-hopping fun! Check out my main VGNO post then sign the MckLinky guest book below with your name/blog link. Visit fellow bloggers that have signed the MckLinky VGNO. Go blog-hopping! The Virtual GNO has some of the best blogger's around.

Time For Some Tunes!

The grey clouds are headed back to Portland and with that can come some dreary moods. I need a tune that will perk me up.

Jason Mraz "Make It Mine"

Jason Mraz - Make It Mine @ Yahoo! Video

I want to hang out with this boy!

Time For A Cocktail!

Sunshine In Malibu
Ingredients:
*1 part Malibu Mango Rum
*1 part Malibu Pineapple Rum
* orange juice
Preparation:
Pour the rums into a highball glass filled with ice.
Fill with orange juice.

This drink is exactly what I need to take my mind away from the clouds. Ahhh...

VGNO "Heart-Shaped Rock Project"



The little "gem" has landed at Kat's place, that Sassy Irish Lassie. Go check out her pictures. So great! After Kat's place the heart-shaped rock will travel to Carolee, who is Working In My Jammies And Lovin' It.

Our VGNO "Heart-Shaped Rock Project" visitor list is growing every day. Would you like to participate? Just e-mail me your mailing address at annharrisonATcomcastDOTcom and I will add you to the list. When you receive the "gem" you'll need to take a picture of yourself, or someone (or place) special, with the rock in the picture and post it on your blog. It's traveling America! Take part, why don't 'cha?!

OK, VGNO blog-hopping friends, click the MckLinky button and add your blog link to join the Virtual GNO. Visit those that have signed-in. Go blog-hopping! Invite your blog readers to join us here. Post A LINK to the Virtual GNO on your blog. I would LOVE to know them and visit their sites as well. That's what the VGNO is all about.

Also, do you Twitter? Am I following you? Leave your Twitter address in the comments to make sure :-> Send our party into the Twitter world. (#VGNO) The more the merrier!



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5 Words

I received a meme of five words to write about from the lovely blogger at Chocolate Covered Daydreams. Here are my five words:

"Sentimental"

Interesting word, "sentimental". Honestly, I'm not that sentimental. When I was younger I held on to things; ticket stubs, t-shirts, etc. But as time has gone by I've had my feelings crushed. (Various people, various ways.) I don't like that feeling, so I've found that I've hardened my emotions about things, about "sentimental" things. Songs trigger memories in a big way. I can't stop memories, no matter how hard I try. At this point in my life I focus on the current moment. (Who knows, one day something might flip a switch and I'll be a huge mess. We'll see.)

"Embrace"

I think of hugs when I hear this word and I'm all for hugs! I like 'em! I like 'em a lot :->

"Joy"

I think 'joy' is a more intense feeling than 'happiness'. So, with that said, I've noticed that it's getting harder for me to feel joyful. There are plenty of things that make me happy, I'm not a total downer. I'm working toward finding ways to feel joyful.

"Create"

I love to create!

"Reminisce"

This word makes me think of being sentimental, and I covered that already. I will say, if I want to feel joy, all I have to do is reminisce about our vacations to Calistoga, CA. Heaven on Earth.


Now, if you want five words, hit me up!!

Health Insurance Companies = DEVIL

I just need to vent. And not that it's a happy "Muse" to contribute to Robin's "Monday's Muse" over at Cinnamon and Honey, but it's on my mind and I just need to vent.

HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE THE DEVIL!

"Covering less and increasing rates. Over a billion customers screwed!" (That's my new commercial for health ins. co's.)

Our current provider just increased our rates by $100 a month. Seriously! The economy stinks, belts have been tightened, and this company doesn't do just a $10 jump, or a rude $50 jump, they dump a $100 increase on us. I've spent the better part of my day researching other options. Ugh...

So, how about you share something that's currently meaningful to you... a song, a video, a poem, a book, a movie, a person... or anything that's gotten into your head and you can't get rid of. (For me today that was obviously angst!) Join Robin with your "Monday's Muse".

Virtual GNO - And A Harry Connick, Jr. Giveaway!

Too much 'Tween drama. Hormones are crazy and some kids are flippin' mean! ARGH!!! Hubby and I want to run away from home. Oh, that would be so-o-o-o nice. But... can't. You know what I'll have to do instead? A Virtual Girls Night Out!

Join The Virtual GNO!

For those that are new to the party: Join the Virtual GNO blog-hopping fun! Check out my main VGNO post then sign the MckLinky guest book below with your name/blog link. Visit fellow bloggers that have signed the MckLinky VGNO. Go blog-hopping! The Virtual GNO has some of the best blogger's around.

Time For Some Tunes!

To coincide with my giveaway here's a bit of groovy Harry.

Harry Connick, Jr. "Blue Light/Red Light"


Harry Connick, Jr. - Blue Light, Red Light (Someone'S There) (Official Music Video) - The funniest home videos are here

Oh Harry... My floors could do with a good sweeping ( Naughty Ann! ;-> )

Time For A Cocktail!

While listening to my jazzy tunes I'm in the mood for a classic cocktail

Dirty Martini

Ingredients:
2 1/2 oz gin (I prefer vodka)
1/2 oz dry vermouth
olive brine to taste
olive for garnish
Preparation:
Pour the gin and dry vermouth into a mixing glass. Slowly add the olive brine.
Stir. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with olive. (I prefer three. Olives, that is. ;->)

Time For A Giveaway!

Due to advertising restrictions on this site I am holding this giveaway on my review site Ann Again... and again Reviews. Please visit this site and enter for a chance to win Harry Connick, Jr.'s latest release "Your Songs". Now, I've given a very honest review of this release. If you win this giveaway let me know if you agree, or disagree, with my take on "Your Songs". Click here to enter. Good Luck!

VGNO "Heart-Shaped Rock Project"

The little "gem" has left Yaya's and has landed at Kat's place, that Sassy Irish Lassie. She is going through the pain of computer problems and will post her picture soon. After Kat's place the heart-shaped rock will travel to Carolee, who is Working In My Jammies And Lovin' It.

Our VGNO "Heart-Shaped Rock Project" visitor list is growing every day. Would you like to participate? Just e-mail me your mailing address at annharrisonATcomcastDOTcom and I will add you to the list. When you receive the "gem" you'll need to take a picture of yourself, or someone (or place) special, with the rock in the picture and post it on your blog. It's traveling America! Take part, why don't 'cha?!

Now, dear VGNO friends, I believe I'll go have a cocktail and remember those sweet days when my girls were tiny and the biggest issue was 'Did I bring enough diapers for this long car ride?' Ah, the good times.

Click the MckLinky button and add your blog link to join the Virtual GNO. Visit those that have signed-in. Go blog-hopping! Please invite your blog readers to join us here. Post A LINK to the Virtual GNO on your blog, I would LOVE to know them and visit their sites as well. That's what the VGNO is all about.

Also, do you Twitter? Am I following you? Leave your Twitter address in the comments to make sure I'm being a good friend :-> Send our party into the Twitter world. (#VGNO) The more the merrier!



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